Furman, Wofford on verge of real rivalry

Hear from players and coaches from both the Wofford Terriers and the Furman Paladins after Woffords 67-64 victory over Furman in the 2015 Men's Southern Conference Basketball Tournament in Asheville.
MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

There are about 30 miles between these two campuses, not eight. There are no national championship banners hanging in either gym. There are no retired jerseys of former NBA stars lining the concourses.

This pair may never have the tradition, the championship heritage or the attention of Duke-North Carolina. Yet, there is history between the basketball programs at Furman University and Wofford College. There is mutual respect. And after Monday night in Asheville, there is a real rivalry.

Furman and Wofford first met on the basketball court during the 1908-09 season, 12 years before Duke and North Carolina's first encounter. They have met 133 times since then in either Greenville or Spartanburg.

On Monday night, the teams met for the first time on a neutral floor. For the first time in the Southern Conference Tournament. For the first time on national television.

After an exhilarating 40-minute thrill ride, hopefully, that will not be the last time.

Furman forward Geoff Beans (3) celebrates after hitting his first attempted three point shot of the night against Wofford during the 2015 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Wofford Terrier fans showed their support as their team wins the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship, defeating Furman 67-64, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Fans rush in to watch the Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Wofford forward Lee Skinner (34) hugs guard John Swinton (3) after getting fouled and making the bucket against Furman during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Furman guard John Davis III (1) drives up the court after a steal during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Wofford guard John Swinton (3), forward Lee Skinner (34) and guard Spencer Collins (14) celebrate after a getting two points and a foul against Furman during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Furman guard Devin Sibley (12) gets fouled on his way up to shoot by Wofford forward Lee Skinner (34) during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Furman forward Kendrec Ferrara (30) gets together with his teammates after getting fouled by a Wofford player during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Wofford head menÕs basketball coach Mike Young during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Wofford head menÕs basketball coach Mike Young during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Furman head basketball coach Niko Medved huddles with his team during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Furman head basketball coach Niko Medved gets after his defense against Wofford during the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins put their heads down as time ticks down near the end of the game against the Wofford Terriers in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

The Furman Paladins and Wofford Terriers face off in the 2015 Southern Conference MenÕs Basketball Tournament Championship at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville on Monday, March 9, 2015. MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff

Furman and Wofford traded the lead 11 times. They traded momentum more frequently. The U.S. Cellular Center thundered on every block, every steal, every buzzer-beating desperation heave, every questionable whistle.

A blend of anxiety and adrenaline swept through the air. It filtered the distractions and returned the purest form of competition. For 40 minutes, storylines did not matter. Records did not matter. Reputations did not matter. Size did not matter.

Two of the smallest Division I programs captivated a national audience who received their first taste of March Madness. Wofford triumphed 67-64 and claimed its second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. Furman, who entered the tournament with an 8-21 record, claimed the admiration of an entire community, including its opponent.

"I like their demeanor," Wofford coach Mike Young said of Furman. "They came up here to fight and to win it."

Great rivalries are cultivated out of these moments, when the stakes are highest, when the lights are brightest, when the competition is most fierce.

Due to their proximity, Furman and Wofford have long been labeled rivalries. However, rivalries are not built on proximity alone. The Paladins need more than heckling fans in witty T-shirts to develop a true rivalry.

They need more victories.

Wofford has won 15 of the teams' last 18 meetings. Revered for their sound, unselfish offense and gritty, smothering defense, the Terriers have won the SoCon Tournament title in four of the last six seasons.

Conversely, since 1995, Furman has enjoyed merely three winning seasons in league play. Considering their run in this SoCon Tournament and the composition of the roster, that trend and this series could shift.

In his second season as Furman's head coach, Niko Medved has compiled a cast of scrappy, skilled players. His eight-man rotation includes four freshmen, a sophomore and three juniors. As expected, their play fluctuated during the season as they acclimated to college competition. They finally steadied in the tournament.

As the No. 10 seed, at the bottom of the league, Furman knocked off No. 7 The Citadel, No. 2 Chattanooga and No. 3 Mercer on consecutive nights. The string of upsets does not signify Furman's potential of sustained success.

Its approach to the tournament does.

The Paladins dismissed their struggles and attacked their opportunity. Programs are built and upheld with that fortitude, because that endures through shooting slumps and foul trouble.

That is what Wofford exudes. That is what Furman must maintain to build this rivalry.

To add championship implications to each meeting. To add spice to the pageantry that makes college basketball great. And to give the Upstate its own version of Tobacco Road.